Southampton 0 Liverpool 2: In-Depth Tactical Analysis

Southampton 0 Liverpool 2: In-Depth Tactical Analysis
Southampton 0 Liverpool 2: In-Depth Tactical Analysis
February 24, 2015 Mihail Vladimirov

By Mihail Vladimirov.

SUMMARY

  • Koeman started with a 4-2-3-1, with the front 4 pressing from high up
  •  Saints had a mixed, balanced approach of attacking and defensive intentions
  • Coutinho’s early goal made Saint’s initial tactical approach redundant
  • They lacked the creativity, guile and fluid movement to open Liverpool up
  • Southampton’s only chances in the first half came from long passes from deep
  • Southampton couldn’t sustain their level of pressure and intensity
  • Liverpool shut up shop very early after going 1-0 up
  • Liverpool dropped deep into a 5-4-1
  • After quarter of an hour as the tempo dropped, Liverpool started seeing more of the ball and looked dangerous in attack
  • Both managers made half-time changes
  • Moreno for Markovic was spot on, Koeman’s change less easy to understand
  • Koeman’s next substitution also didn’t change anything
  • Rodgers changed to a 3-1-4-2 after Sturridge replaced Lallana
  • This made Liverpool more sold through the middle and offered more counter-attacking threat, but also more vulnerable to being overloaded down the flanks
  • Southampton unable to capitalise, Liverpool saw the game out easily
  • Liverpool deserve credit for their work-rate, teamwork and determination

Ahead of this game Koeman had plenty of selection dilemmas based on who would be available and who to start with given the exact starting approach. The Dutch welcomed back the young left-back Matthew Targett, which spared him the potentially awkward decision of having to play Yoshida at left-back against whoever of Ibe or Markovic started at right wing-back for Liverpool. But Schneiderlin was passed fit only for the bench. Interestingly, neither of Mane or Tadic started the game – Mane left out for being late turning up – so Ward-Prowse and the Benfica loanee Djuricic were named in the starting XI.

Meanwhile Rodgers had one more issue to solve given the last-moment injury to Sakho. Logically Lovren started the game but interestingly it was actually Can who was switched to the left hand-side of the back three unit. Moreno was given a rare break with Markovic starting at left wing-back with Sturridge, coming on the back of consecutive starts and 90 mins on Thursday, replaced by Sterling in attack.

Starting XIs

Southampton’s starting approach

One of the main talking points prior the game was how exactly Koeman would approach this game tactically. There were at least a few legitimate variants, both personnel and formation-wise, ranging from a cautious 4-1-2-3 to an attack-minded 4-2-3-1. As the game started it become clear the Dutch manager had opted for a Chelsea-like 4-2-3-1 but instead of it being either defensive-minded (as in the COC semi-final first leg) or thoroughly attacking (as in the second leg) it was kind of a mixture of both strategies used by Mourinho.

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